Sole and heel applicator



July 1" H. BERGGRUEN SOLE AND HEEL APPLICATOR FiledNov. 9, 1937 Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE SOLE AND HEEL APPLICATOR Herbert Berggruen, Bronx, N. Y. Application November 9, 1937, Serial No. 173,636

2 Claims. (01. 15-210) This invention relates to a sole and heel applicator to be used for applying color and polish to the upper and lateral faces of the sole edge 1 extension of a shoe and toithe lateralsurfaces of the heel. s a

In cleaning shoes the general public has always left the welts or upper faces of the sole extensions and the lateral faces of the soles of their shoes uncleaned. This is true with all sports shoes, particularly white shoes. With this device such untidy appearance may be readily corrected. It is extremely easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture. If a suitable inking fluid or dyeing polish is used, it is only necessary to go over the parts of. the shoe once, thus saving considerable time in getting the desired finished appearance. Such a finished appearance of the shoes will give a person an immaculate ensemble.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effi'cient applicator for the above purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide an applicator which is inexpensive in construc- 5 tion, sturdy in character, and extremely durable in use. i Further object of the invention is toprovide an applicator which may be used to clean and polish the conspicuous parts of theheel and outsole quickly andneatly.

Additional object of the invention is to provide an applicator or cleaning apparatus whose cleaning surfaces are so arranged relative to one another that the said surfaces may be conveniently placed in contact with the parts to be cleaned or colored. y

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description takenin conjunction with the drawing and from the 0 claims hereinafter set forth.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the drawing illustrating a preferred form thereof, wherein:

Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of the assembled applicator.

Fig.2 shows in perspective view an element of the applicator.

Fig. 3 represents a detail elevation of a back- 50 ing strip or element.

Fig. 4 indicates in perspective a partial assembled view of the applicator.

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary cross-section of a shoe, showing a manner of using the ap- 55 plicator.

sorbent element which it engages. several important exceptions. .overlie the length of protrusion l2; and it is 5 sorbent element 5 and its backing strip 3 are shown substantially coextensive, their lower ends being immersed in the liquid 2.

It is intendedthat the receptacle i shall provide a satisfactory handle for the applicator. While the lower portion of the rod-like absorbent element 5 may be of rectangular or other convenient cross-sectional outline, its upper portion,

which extends above the cap 4 of the receptacle I is of particular shape. A head portion 1 extends laterally from the upper end of the abs0-rb. ent element 5 at an angle which is approximately a right angle. The head portion 1 is integral with the element 5 from which it may be 125 partially separated by a slit 8 which forms a continuation of a lower or operative face 9 of said head portion 7. The head portion '1 has a downwardly and outwardly inclined upper face I 0 which produces a wedge-shaped profile having a rather thin edge, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. a Fig. 2 indicates also the pointed nature of the head portion 1 as seen in plan.

Additional operative surfaces are provided by the front face II of the element 5 and a rib-like, 35 rectangular protrusion l2. The protrusion I 2 is an integral part of the element 5 and extends downwardly from theupper end thereof near the rear edge of a side l3.

Generally speaking, the backing strip 3, which 40 may be of any suitablematerial, is coextensive with the back face and upper face Ill of the ab- There are Strip 3 does not provided with an enlarged upper end I4 of spear shape crimped over the curved edges of the upper face ll] of the head portion 1 so as to define a stiff marginal edge of uniform width for insertion in the welt crease of a shoe in a manner to be described. Part of the lower or operative face 9 bulges below its edge to insure contact with upper or welt face A of the outsole C.

An unbent rectangular projection IS on the spear-shaped end I4 coincides with the upper end of the protrusion I2.

The modified absorbent element 50 shown in Fig. 6 differs only in its unslit upper end and head portions.

In applying the element 5 to the upper face A and lateral face B of the outsole C of a shoe D (Fig. 5), the lower face 9 on the element 5 comes in contact with the upper face A and the front face II comes in contact with the lateral face B. As the width of the upper face A of sole G varies from the heel breast to the toe end of the shoe D, the slit 8 separating the head por-, tion I and the absorbent element 5 tends to give said front face II an adjusting-movement independent of the head portion I, thus reaching every visible part of the upper or welt face A and lateral face B of the sole. The compacted lines of Fig. 5 showthe nature of the independent adjusting movement, as the absorbentelement 5 is compressed near its head portion 1.

It is to be noted that the lower face 9 of the head portion 1 extends outwardly of the absorbent element 5 for a distance approximating the narrowest part of the sole extension of a shoe with which it is to be used, in order that the adjacent surface II of said absorbent element will at all times contact the lateral edge face of a sole throughout its height, and that the effective length of the lower face of the head portion may be increased by compression of the absorbent element adjacent thereto. This function is inherent in the modification of Fig. 6.

The protrusion I2 forms a cleaner which as an integral part of the absorbent element 5 may be used to clean the heel as Well as to touch up other parts of the shoe, The protrusion I2 abuts the enlarged end M of the backing strip 3 so that the projection IE on the backing strip 3 may be used asa guide when protrusion I2 is compressed in cleaning the heel or other parts of the shoe. Obviously, the protrusion I2 will be of a length somewhat greater than the height of the heel.

. When passing from the sole extension to the heel .of a: shoe with this device, it is necessary only to rotate the receptacle I slightly to present the protrusion I2 to the edge face of the heel.

It is to be understood, however, that while I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I ,do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A shoe applicator including an elongated absorbent element and a backing strip which is secured thereto, said absorbent element having a generally Wedge-shaped head portion projecting laterally from one end thereof with the thinner portion outward and partially separated from the main portion of said element by a slit which extends transversely of said element from the line of intersection of the lower face of said wedgeshaped portion with the main portion thereof, and said strip being arranged as a facing on the side of the absorbent element toward which the slit extends and on the upper face of said wedge-shaped head portion in order to aid 7 insertion of the head portion into the welt crease of a shoe and to protect. the shoe upper.

2. A shoe applicator including an elongated absorbent element of substantial thickness and a backing strip secured thereto, said absorbent element having a generally wedge-shaped head portion projecting approximately at right angles from one end thereof with its thin edge outward, the lower face of the head portion extending outwardly of the absorbent element for a distance approximating the narrowest part of the sole extension of a shoe with which it is to be used, in order that the adjacent surface of said absorbent element will at all times contact the lateral edge face of a sole throughout its height and that the effective length of the lower face of the head portion may be increased by compression of the absorbent element adjacent thereto when a Wider portion of the sole extension is encountered, and said strip extending along a side of the absorbent element opposite from that arranged tocontact the sole and over the upper faceof thehead portion, so as to aid insertion of the head portion in the welt crease of a shoe and to shield the shoe upper from the absorbent element.

HERBERT BERGGRIUEN. 

